Back when we lived in the States, often times Feyma and I would go grocery shopping together. I have, pretty much ever since we have been married, been self employed and worked from our house, so my schedule is flexible. With having a very flexible work schedule, we just enjoyed doing the shopping together.
Naturally, when we moved to the Philippines, we kept up our practice and shopped for groceries together. I quickly found, as did Feyma, that grocery shopping in the Philippines was a bit of a different experience, with a lot more hassles (sorry, out of stock, sir!) than what we were used to. After a while, Feyma encouraged me to just not go with her any longer when it was grocery shopping time.
I felt pretty good about this, as the hassles were just way too many, so just staying home, or going elsewhere, was a better option for me.
One thing that used to happen when we shopped together, though, was so common, and yet really got under my skin.
Often times, when the cashier would ring up the groceries, and give us the total bill, I would get the money from my wallet and give it to her. She would then get our change from the cash register, and proceed to give the change to Feyma. I always kind of felt funny standing there waiting for my change and seeing it given to somebody else!
A lot of couples these days keep their money separate. I mean, the wife works and has her own bank account. The husband has his own financial identity. Feyma and my marriage has always been more traditional. What I earn is “ours” and what she earns is “ours”. There is nothing like “this money is mine and that money is yours.” Our bank accounts are joint accounts, I do not have an accounts in my name only, nor does she. Still, though, when you are at the cash register of a store and you give the money, it is expected that any change due will be given to you, not somebody else. I mean, for all the cashier knows, Feyma might be my sister in law, or even my employee, right? So, I never understood it when I would pay, yet my change was given to Feyma!
In talking with other foreigners who live here, they have relayed the same experience to me, and they are as puzzled as I am about it.
My feeling is that the reason for this is because the cashier may be shy to interact with the foreigner, and it just feels better for her to give the money to the Filipina, thus avoiding having a direct interaction with the foreign husband. Still, though, it would seem that her job would be to give change to the person who gave her the money, don’t you think?
In fact, further along these lines, I have found, and other expats have confirmed the same thing, that if I go out with Feyma anywhere, people tend to talk to Feyma and ignore me. On the other hand, if I go out alone, people are very friendly to me, and I can have very nice conversations with them. This is especially true since I learned to speak Bisaya, if I say a few words in Bisaya to somebody that I encounter, they really break loose and talk very openly with me. But, if I am with Feyma, they remain very reserved with me. Strange, don’t you think? But, as I said, many other foreigners living here have told me of the exact same experience.
Hi Bob;
Add my name to the list of “Where’s My Change?” guys. Thank you pointing out this funny situation, I guess it’s happened so many times I’ve stopped noticing it. Somewhat like Oh the sun came up today! The real answer as to the why of it, I’ll leave for greater minds to ponder. Where’s My Change? Very funny Bob!
It is a strange situation, Paul… like you say, we’ll let great minds ponder it and figure out why the sun rises, and why we don’t get our change at the cashier! 😆
I fall into your group Paul, that I don’t think about it any more.
The two other things that get me, at least here in Bacoor is…..
Your buying some things and the price is P648.25. you give the cashier P700 and then she ask if you have p3. I will say no most of the time even if I do have it. I just don’t understand why, if I had it or wanted to give it to you I would have.
The other one is if your cost is P161.75 and and you give P165.00. You only get p3.00 back. where did my P0.25 go. I think about this the stores that do this make a killing on money that is not recored in the books. Sure P0.25 is not much but you think about how many people that they do that to. It adds up very quickly. A 1000 people and you have P250, not a bad way to put money in your pocket and not pay taxes.
Just another thought!
Hi Bill – I rarely carry any change, so like you, I almost always say “no” when they ask if I have whatever coins are needed.
How about this… if they say, “Sir, do you have P3?” and you reply “yes, I do” but don’t give it to them! Ha ha… I suspect that the head scratching would commence quickly!
Yes you are right, it does and I have done that a few times.
To take it one more step I have reach in my pocket and pulled out about P50 in coins that they could see and put it back in my pocket. More head scratching 🙂
Ha ha ha… that’s a classic, Bill! 😆
Bill & Bob;
The question by the cashier; “Sir do you have 3p?” Correct answer; “I will after I get my change.” That’s assuming our wife is not with us.
Ha ha… that’s a classic, and a real head scratcher, Paul!
I like that one.
Or just smile and say; “Out of Stock.”
That has got to be up their with the all time classics.
Surprising,in the UK it is very common to be asked for small change by the cashier,so that they can round up your change,without you ending up with a pocketful of loose change,or shrapnel,as we jokingly call it.Many times i will offer up the loose change ammount before being asked.
Often they will ask in the States too… but here it is like they almost demand it! 😯
Ha ha.
Ha ha. Demand is right! I guess it doesn’t matter if one is local or expat, the cashiers always.. and I say always asks for small change. And even if I have, I always say no! He he 🙂
😉
Or they will refuse to make a sale on the basis of lack of change. This sort of jolted me. I’ve been here for a month, BTW. 🙂
True, Roy! Hey, you are here in the Philippines? Enjoy your stay!
Thanks Bob!
Exactly on the ‘demand’ part. I seldom carry loose change, but if I have it, I’d be happy to help with it … if someone ever asked as if it wasn’t my _job_ to provide it. I’ve even (when alone, LoL) been known to say, “No, it’s not my job to go to the bank for change today.”
I’m just formulating an article idea in my mind regarding how often Filipinos won’t ask for even the simplest things, yet take a shy “simple” girl and give her a job as a cashier and wow … the change Nazi.
The other part of the article, regarding how people will frequently shift from speaking with you to speaking to your wife is very frustrating at times. Even when there isn’t a language gap, it still often leads to misunderstandings and wastes a lot of time.
More than once I have felt the need to interject myself back into the conversation and say, “Excuse me, I was the one who came in with the problem, can you please speak directly with me about it”?
I’m sure this doesn’t endear me to the sales clerk (or to my wife, either, for that matter), but it’s more than a language thing or respect for Dave’s fragile ego.
Even when it is only one to one, communication can pose problems. The more people who get involved, even with the same language, the greater the potential for misunderstanding. It’s like that “telephone” party game where one person whispers in the next person’s ear and it goes around in a circle … by the time it gets back to the source, the thought is often unrecognizable
Hi Dave – Ha ha… yeah, they really do seem to demand the coins! Like you, if I have coins, I am very happy to get rid of them! But, usually I don’t carry coins, though. Like other commenters here have mentioned, I stick my coins in a desk drawer, and forget about them. Once they build up, then I will grab a bunch and spend them, but only from time to time.
Yeah in the UK they will say do you have 5P – I go huh what’s that… 5 Pence, ohhh hehehehe, lol.
Bill,
The reason why she asked if you have 3 pesos is that she doesn’t want to deal w/ a smaller change like centavos, i guess she wants the easiest way of handling back your change specially if there’s alot of customers waiting in line, it’s quite a norm there in the Philippines or even here in Hk when there’s a filipino stores around, some people might find it quite strange but you’re right sometimes it’s also quite annoying….
I can understand why they do it and I don’t think it has to do with easiest way of giving me my money back or that there is a line of customers waiting. It’s not about the centavos either as I only get centavos back about 10% of the time.
Just my thought. They thing that it will save them time in counting my change back because bills are easier to grab and count than the coins. But when you thing about it the time that it takes to ask me the question and maybe, just maybe look in my pocket she could have given me my change and been on my way.
Just my thought.
Pretty strange Bob…but then maybe only the Fillipino has the answer and reason to all of this….
Hi Dan – Very strange indeed.
Dan,
Ive’d just answer Bill ‘s question coz i’m pinay!! hahaha!
Ok…Rebecca…ya..I readed your answer..makes sense to me….Maybe what make more sense is to do away with all the small money and just have the pesos…and then of course need to get stores and such to round prices off so it come out right…hahaha that make it more easy for the person at the counter and make it more easy on the person paying, I would think…
Dan – I wish also they get rid the 5, 10 cents and even the 25 centavos here. The cashiers hates to be bothered by handing such coins anyway.
Dan
Just like here in the states where i think we should get rid of the penny. Its worthless
Bob – They say the lady is the manager of the money over there by tradition. This is how Papa and Mama explained that coin exchange thing to me when I was married over there nearly 14 years ago. Perhaps that’s why they do this, as they assume she is the lady of the house and therefore tradition says that she IS the money manager. You’re just the “security guard” for it. 😉
Hi Bill – It is true that the female often does the money management here… but still, these cashier’s can’t know for sure that the lady with me is my wife. I just feel it would be more appropriate to give the change to the person who tenders the money! 😉
Bob – Maybe you’re just such a good couple that you project the togetherness? That would be a compliment I suppose? Working from this belief, they may sense this and don’t want to disrespect your wife and her real or perceived role as money manager?
Maybe so, Bill, I can’t say for sure!
Hi Bob,
That’s a very interesting question. I don’t recall that happening to me when I would go shopping with Jeanette. I particularly enjoyed grocery shopping with Jeanette. I’d typically pay for the goods and the cashier pretty much gave me the change. With all the shopping I did during my stays there, I’m sure there were probably a few instances when the cashier might have give the change to Jeanette. Best I be more aware of this for further study. 🙂
Hi Henry – I’m betting that it happened to you too, but you just didn’t notice. It’s so common, I can’t imagine that it never happened! 😆
I went shopping a couple of times there. In one instance the bill was a like 2002.02 and they wouldn’t accept 2002p I had to give them 2003 they gave me 97 plus cents change a real pain with all those little coins. Another time it was like 99.10 peso and they wouldn’t accept the 99 peso I had to give them 100 and this time they gave me no change.
Hi Dwayne – My experience at many Philippine stores has been quite the opposite. They often will take less than the bill is, forgiving the “centavo” portion of the bill. I guess we all have different experiences, though.
In my experiences they normally round off the bill to the nearest change they have (in centavos). If no centavos then they round up or down depending on the closest to a piso. Most of the time (not all) the cashier gives me the change. My wife has usually walked off anyway. When I first moved here, I unknowingly embarrassed my wife when the cashier gave her the change and I asked her for it. A friend of mine told me his wife always gets the change as payment for keeping up the house. I never felt that way since I pay for everything anyway, plus give my wife extra money whenever she asks and often when she doesn’t.
Richard D
Hi Richard – I have never heard that about the wife always getting the change for keeping up the house! Ha ha… I think the husband should get the change for paying for the house! 😆 Seriously, I don’t have any problem with Feyma having whatever money she needs or wants to have, but I just think it’s a bit strange to give the change to the person who did not pay! 😉
Bob, my ex would usually gives me the change especially those coins. He he.
Hi sugar – I have no problem giving Feyma whatever money she wants. I just don’t want the cashier to reach in my pocket, take my money out and hand it to Feyma. I will do the handing myself! 😯
bob,
hahahaha.. i think you just suffered from a disease called
“mine is yours and yours is yours.”
I didn’t know about that disease, dans! Thanks for letting me know…. where can I get an inoculation? 😉
btw, don’t worry bob, it is not only you who experienced it, I always get the same treatment from the cashier., I take money out of my wallet and the change is handed to my wife.
the “mine is yours and yours is yours” disease is prevalent among filipina. lol!!!
Bob
You and Feyma should just throw the change that you get in a plastic water jug and let it add up. Thats what i’ve been doing for years. Now my 5 -gallon jug is full of quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies. I should get a nice little chunk of change LOL.
Thank God for machines that will put the money in rolls. Nice Article. Hope you and your family have a nice Thanksgiving Day!
Go out and splurge with your change jug, Randy! You deserve it! Happy Thanksgiving!
Bob- when I read the title of the article i thought you were going to address a different situation- that being that in recent months many of the malls have started to just not pay you any change that is owing in centavos. SM didnt give me my 30 centavos recently [ with appology], NCCC mall 40 cenatavos [ with appology] and yesterday Wilcon didnt give me 25 centavos [ again with appology ] . Boy, if only I could spend all those appologies ! lol There is an ongoing posting on davaosales by several people who report the same thing at NCCC mall. Supposedly the country is short of small coins due to people keeping them in their drawers. I realize its just a small amount of money, but I would feel better if occasionally one of the malls would say to me ” oh no need to pay the 30 centavos Sir ” !!! hahahahaaha
Hi ian – I was in SM just yesterday and bought some stuff in the SM Department Store. My bill was P101.80, and I gave the cashier P500. She asked if I had 2 pesos, and I told her I had no coins. She proceed to give me P400 change! So, they do go the other way from time to time.
Uh Bob- I think thats my 2 pesos that they gave you !!! Can I have it back please ?
OH, hold on, ian… I misspoke! They really shorted me P2! Ha ha… let me go edit that!
No, seriously, I often get the “good end of the stick” in these kinds of transactions, so it does go both ways!
Ian..if there are so many poor people in the Phillipines I wondering why they could keep the coins in their drawers? Maybe a cenatavo is like a penny here and gets heavy hauling 2 many of them in your pocket….or maybe they are a 1/2 penny and that would make it even worse….Now I am curious so have to look up what a cenatavo is……aha..maybe this is the reason here…according toWikipedia,…In December 2008 a Philippine Congress resolution called for the retirement and demonetization of all coins less than one peso.
Hi Dan – The smallest denomination coin is 5 centavos. One Peso is worth approximately 2 cents US, so 5 centavos is worth roughly 1/10th of a penny. Ha ha….
Ok Bob..thanks…No wonder they want to get rid of the Centavos and you need a pocket full of them there a 5 centavos to even get a small hambuger at Jolie Beeeeeees
A pocket full, or a wheelbarrow full, Dan? 😯
The US has talked about stoping production on the penny because of the cost. I think they should. Last time I herd it cost more to make than they are worth.
Hey one way to help!
Hey Bill, as worthless as US currency is getting, maybe they should stop production of anything under US$100! 😉
Actually Bob, the BSP is considering eliminating the centavo coins due to lack of use (really, only the supermarkets use them) and cost of production.
Hi John – But, actually, there is no centavo coin… the smallest denomination is 5 centavos. Maybe you meant that they might discontinue all coins of less than P1? I wouldn’t be surprised, and I actually think that is the right move to make.
Right… That’s what I meant, since the values is so nominal. I read that most of the 5,10,25,and 50 centavo coins end up going to charities. I occasionally will receive as change a bunch of them taped together. As a side note, many of the Aeta use them to fashion necklaces and traditional jewelry because of the hole in the middle (of the 5 or 10… can’t remember which)
It is the 5 that has a hole in it! Had to reach into my desk drawer stash of small change to check it! Ha ha ha
Bob,
I thoroughly enjoy the 5 centavo coins. I used them as washers for the cabinet hinges on the large computer and dressing table counter I built for Daisy in our bedroom. The hinge screws were too long and I didn’t want to go out and buy them all over again or to buy washers which would have cost more than the 5 centavo coins. Just sent the maid out for the 5 centavos. Each hinge screw has 4 of them, added value to the cabinets, and they don’t rust either. I think the door handles had some 5 centavos added as well, ha ha. Hope this use is legal.
Some nice shiny ones fresh from the bank could be used a a decorative edging as well. I’d better act fast in case they become phased out.
Jade
Glad you found some uses for them, Jade. As far as I can tell, there are not many uses for a 5 centavo coin any longer! 😆
Yeah BSP should get rid of the centavos. Nobody uses them. My local sari- sari store won’t even accept those. Even jeepney drivers. And if I hand 5, 10 and 25 centavos to kids singing Christmas songs, they get pissed. He he.
Just melt down ur centavos and sell it to the junk shop, you get paid more for it.
Ha ha… I think you are right, Boss!
LOL now thats funny, then we would only have to worry about carrying one bill. Well that is if you might have some of the old $500, $1,000 and $10,000 bills, but if you have one of them you have more than face vaule.
I seen on E-Bay i think were a $1,000 bill sold for over $15,000.
They might need to start making those bigger denominations again as soon as the inflation kicks in, Bill! 😉
The problem is not the stores – its the banks, they DO NOT have enough coins especially when Christmas rolls around.
The ones incharge of the money DREAD Christmas it means the bank will be out of coins, 20 peso bills, etc NO KIDDING! Sometimes stores have to go to Petron, Shell, etc stations and beg them for coins, as these places have a lot of coins.
So stores bring paper money and change it for the coins Petron, Shell, etc has.
Some stores even go to Churches after the collection of alms and exchange paper money for coins.
This is how terrible the banks are during Holiday season.
So I guess the Philippines has not minted enough coins?
It is true, Cheryll, there is a real shortage of coins and small bills in the Philippines. When we used to own an internet cafe years ago, we spent a lot of time at the gas station looking for coins! 😆
Cheryl, Bob
Thats just another reason to get rid of the centavos and you won’t have to worry about a shortage.
Absolutely, Randy… I have no problem with eliminating the centavo coins…. I consider them worthless anyway!
Hi Bob – As others have mentioned, the wife controls the money management department. As I fully subscribe to this Asian custom, I just don’t receive any change. I also don’t have any money in my pocket to give. It all works so very well to have one less problem in life (two less, if you count a cashier not being able to make correct change).
😆
Hi Paul – Surely, you go out without your wife from time to time, di ba? So hopefully your wife gives you a little allowance every now and then? 😯
Sure – when I go out, I don’t take my wallet. I take my wife! (Can’t but help remember the old Henny Youngman joke, “Take my wife, . . . please!”)
I get an allowance. It sits on the dresser, and is picked away by the giver whenever there’s a need for small change!
😆
Hi Paul – I am not sure if you are joking or being serious about taking your wife. I love my wife dearly, but I also enjoy going places without her. Not that I am trying to get away from her, but my experience in interacting with other people in the Philippines is so much different (and frankly more enjoyable) if my wife is not with me. I don’t know why, but Filipinos interact differently with me if I am alone, more engaging.
Hard to explain but I guess there’s a different dynamics there
My experience is the same as yours Sir Bob, for the brief periods when I am alone my popularity with the locals increases and decreases accordingly when my partner is with me. Partly explains why my partner rarely leaves my side. Lol
Maayon Buntag Bob
I would like to look at this from a little different angle. You know filipina are VERY possessive. My friends and I have often joked about this. Not always but some times I think the filipina would rather talk to your wife so they do not create a situation or that there intentions are misunderstood. Just a thought!
Hi Larry – You are right on the mark! What you say is very true. However… it is the same experience if you are dealing with a man, though! 😆
Hi Bob
I usually go shopping with the wife and pay the cashier money. I noticed that in shops like SM I usually get the change handed back to me, but in the market my wife usually gets the change. Although I’m confused as why the ‘price to pay’ is sometimes P201.02 when the smallest coin is P0.05. Where did the odd 0.02 come from?????
Hi Barry – You sure are right! I don’t understand why they price things in a way that the odd amount comes about. However… given the 12% VAT, I guess that no matter how you price an item, it will come out to an odd amount!
Thats funny Bob, Just yesterday we were at Ansons shopping for a new air conditioner. I asked the clerk several questions about a certain model and every time he answered the question to my wife in tagalog even though he could speak very good english. This happens to me all the time.
Hi Matt – That is another thing that drives me nuts, and it happens all the time. I ask a question, the clerk turns to my wife and answers! Since I can speak Bisaya now, it’s not as bad, but if they answer in Tagalog it is still of no use to me. I hate it! 😆
I have been told that they answer the wife in their language because they are not comfortable speaking English. Maybe they are afraid they will make a mistake.
Hi Richard – But, even if I speak to them in Bisaya, they will turn to Feyma and answer in Tagalog!!! Ha ha….. it’s true!
Hi Bob,
I am sat here very bemused by the subject,so here is my 10cents worth.
When Sheryl and i go shopping,i mostly tend to let her do the paying,as she is much quicker than me to spot if we have been given the right change lol.
Speaking and giving change to the filipina,instead of the foreigner,i feel,is due to lack of confidence in communicating with foreigners.
Sheryls english is extremely good,but among foreigners that she does not know very well,she lacks confidence in speaking it,as she has rarely been in the company of other foreigners.
However,her best friend who has spent a few years working overseas,is far more confident in speaking english.
regards,Chas.
I agree, Chas, that there is a lack of confidence. But, if you think about it, it simply is not right to give the change to somebody who did not pay! At least that is how I feel.
Good point Bob,3 words come to mind “Lack of training”.
No doubt!
I agree with lack of training. There are shops though that is used to dealing with foreigners so the cashiers are not really embarrassed dealing with the expats.
That one irritates me as well and i just stick my hand out to receive the change before it lands in the other hand . 🙂
Of a more serious nature is an experience i had while in a hospital for a non – life threatening procedure . I agreed to an x – ray as part of the initial workup because i had not had one in a number of years even though an x-ray had no bearing on my reason for being there in the first place .
I ended up having to stay in the hospital 3 days because “they were worried” even though state side i would not have been hospitalized because my nose was stuffed with packing after having my sinus cavity flushed due to a broken blood vessel .
I checked out of the hospital not even thinking about the x-ray primarily because no one had made any reference to it during my stay . A couple of days ago i was was talking about going in for a full checkup with the Filipino companion that had been with me during my hospital stay and she mentioned something about my x – ray showing “spots” on my lungs .
After some discussion it was obvious that she did not realize that”spots” on the lungs could have serious implications . Her lack of understanding i can deal with but for a physician to relay information of that nature to my Filipino companion instead of me , the patient , just totally gets my dander up .
I fully understand that hospital things are family issues here even if not life threatening but not to discuss something of this nature with me directly i interpret as unethical conduct on the part of a professional person . I am not about to sue anybody about it but it makes me wonder about the deference always given to the Filipino companion when with a foreigner .
Wow, Alan, that is really something! I agree, I think that medical ethics would dictate that your information is shared with you, and you alone (unless you specify that it’s OK to share with your wife or others).
Alan- I dont consider that so strange . I had a fight with my doctor in Canada because he told me some of my negative test results [ not of a sexual nature !! lol] in front of my wife. I told him that if I wanted to tell my wife my results that was up to me to do so,and that the doctor patient privilege meant just that- and that i was the patient and not my wife. I know most people take it for granted that their doctor will discuss their case with their wife, but I feel that the decision as to who is privy to my medical information is one to be made by me alone.
The only reason I didnt want her to know right then was because I knew she would start getting all worked up worrying, and it was MY decision to make – not the doctors.
Alan- i said i dont consider that so strange. I meant to say i dont consider that so unusual.
Hi Bob,
This story is funny. It’s called “hiya” or shyness/coyness. Locals usually talk to the “companion” of the foreigner because they are not confident in communicating to them directly. This is also to avoid mis-communication because it is assumed that the companion will translate the conversation to the foreigner, at some point. However, with balikbayans or OFWs this is not usually the case. Regarding the change, I hope you haven’t experienced yet instead of receiving coins, the cashier will give you candies instead..lol. There was in fact, once upon a time, a value for the .01 called the “mamera” or “isang pera”, I guess, the Philippine monetary haven’t updated the pricings to avoid this change that’s why you’re still getting prices with 1.01, 1.02 etc.etc.
Hi Jonathan – Of course I understand hiya, or as it would be called in a Bisaya area, Ulaw. Still, it is just not right to give a person’s change to the other person. If they are shy, it wouldn’t be OK to give the change to a man 3 counters away, di ba? 😉
3 counters away? Now that you would be strange “). As for me, I would always let my wife pay every bills whenever we go shopping because she have all my money! LMAO!
I am just saying, the cashier has no right to give the change to a person who did not pay, whether they are 3 counters away, or standing next to you.
Yes, it’s a strange one, giving the wife the change. I quite enjoy it in fact, and play games with them, just to see what will happen. When Vangie and I are out shopping, say at SM for grocery or something, she hands over the money, then stands just too far away to receive the change, and looks away, but I stand closer holding out my hand, and after a puzzled look, the change is given to me. But, if she doesn’t look away, even though she is out of reach, they will ignore me and tell her “here is your change Maaaaaam”.
The biggest thing that p***** me right off….er, I mean really annoys me, is when you are shopping alone and they don’t put your change in your outheld hand, but put it down on the counter, like you have leprosy or something. When that happens, I just continue holding out my hand until they say “there is your change sir”, pointing at it. Then they look at me like I’m the one who’s crazy when I reply “Oh, is that my change, I thought that must have been someone else’s change because you didn’t put it in my hand”.
I know I know I know, I have too much time on my hands. But then, if I’m in the Philippines, I’m on holiday…so I do have plenty of time on my hands. 🙂
Hi Jim – I also hate it when I put my hand out, but they put the change on the counter instead! Seems so impersonal!
That’s one pet hate of mine, putting the change down on the counter. Some people just don’t know any better.
Yeah, I personally consider it a bit rude.
Hi Bob,
Your observation is right on. Most Filipinos will try to avoid speaking English. Filipinos are very harsh on other Filipinos speaking English when they make mistake, i.e., pronounciation.
The cashier might also give the change to the wifey because most Filipino men do not bother with the coin change because they do not have a purse.
It is also known that most tourist do not bother with the change because let’s face it, having a 200 pesos change is too bulky to care.
One thing I observed from your article; it is safe to say that Feyma not in the eyes of the Filipinos is your WIFE. I guess you started to look a like like most couples.
Cheers,
Toting
Hi Toting – Thanks for your comment. When I was talking of change, I did not only mean coins, even if my change was P900+! 😉
I thought they replaced the centavo coins with candies?
Sometimes they give candy instead of coins… it is illegal for them to do that, though.
Hi Bob, My wife and i typically shop at Sm Davao for groceries and most other things. At Sm market i typically buy all the meats and my wife and kids pile on all the other stuff. Almost always i lead to the cashier as i put the meats in the container on the counter first with everyone behind me. Then as its rung up i hand the money. In my case i cant say that it has happened to me that often. I am sure it has but i think in my case i get the money handed back to me because i am the first one of our family in line with my wife,relatives and kids behind me. Try it if you have not yet and see what those results are.
Hi Anthony – Good idea… truth is, though.. I no longer go along for the shopping these days. Too many things demand my time now, between this site, and multiple business ventures. Actually, even Feyma doesn’t have the time to usually do the shopping. Often one of our nieces handles that now! 😀
Hi Bob,
Happy thanksgiving. Wishing you, feyma and the children more blessing to come.
Thank you, Susan! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family as well!
Hi Bob,
Since Canada introduced the looney and tooney into the system decades ago, we’ve gotten used to being asked to top up to get an even dollar. I usually try to get rid of my coins since they get to be heavy in the pocket. I like what the Japanese have done, round off their prices. I guess Americans aren’t used to coins. The Susan B. Anthony dollar didn’t take off. Is that still around?
As for the cashier giving the change to Feyma, may I ask why is it that when I am out with a lady at a restaurant, she gets to order first, but I get handed the bill automatically. Maybe there is a subliminal message as to why cashiers would hand the change to the wifey instead of the kano husband.
Alex
Hi Alex – I don’t really know the status of the Susan B. Anthony dollar. Since I have not been in the States for over 10 years, it’s not something I really have any information on. What I do know is that I personally do not like carrying coins… I find them bulky in my pocket. I much prefer paper money!
I think most Americans just do not want to part with the $1 paper currency. The first attempt at the Susan B Anthony ( nick named ” Susie Q ” by a lot of people ) caused a lot of confusion as it was almost the same size as the ” Quarter “. I was working in the coin machine business back then and we got a lot of jammed coin slots from those Suzie Q $1 coins , people put them in the coin slots thinking they were quarters and the coin mechanisms back then could not accomodate them.
Cash drawers in cash registers had no space for the $1 coins either.
The $1 coin was re-launched again years later with a gold color coin so it could be better identified but I hardly see any of them in circulation.
I think the majority of people just don’t want to part with the $1 Bill in paper currency.
I would tend to believe that, Bob, as I know that I much prefer paper money to coins.
Instead of getting a pocket-full of loose change when you spend P104.25, why don’t they just print P 104.25 notes. There, problem solved 🙂
Hi Barry – Ha ha.. what about when you spend 104.26 or 104.27?
Both in the UK and The Philippines I seem to end up with more coins than I care to deal with. On my recent visit however I felt I had much better control of it. I had figured out when and at what times of day merchants etc. would accept the larger bills in paying for something so I could get smaller ones back, especially the 20’s and 50’s .
This is the first visit though that I remember being asked if I have this many peso or that many peso in change at so many places. Since I could readily identify the 1 peso coin now, I was more than glad to surrender them when asked and relieve the added weight from my pocket.
I think the reason I’d rather just pay with paper currency and have them give me the change back, it is less time for me fumbling around with paper currency I am not that familiar with ( compared to USA currency ) as to not have the cash out in plain sight for any longer than necessary. Each night in the hotel room I would go through my paper currency and arrange it so it would be in some kind of order for the next day.
Hi Bob – The added weight in your pocket, and walking down the street jingling is another reason I don’t care for coins! 😯
I did that too Bob NY, after I inadvertently gave a thousand piso note as a tip instead of a hundred. My partner in the early days was curious why I would do that (arrange my notes) I replied i’m not from Texas I can’t afford to give out 1k in tips lol.
Lol after a couple of years I just surrendered my wallet to my partner, saved me having to pull it out a hundred times a day. Were both happier for that decision. Works for me.
Ha ha… good thinking, Boss!
I noticed when I’m with April, it’s kind of the opposite. Like, instead of thanking her for buying their product, they look at me when i had nothing to do with it. It made me feel uneasy though, as I thought they might be thinking bad of us since I’m American.
We experience something similar when paying the utility bills. Instead of giving or asking us for change they will round up and tell us we will have an overpayment on the next bill.
Ha ha… must be nice for them to just be able to “keep the change” like that, Ron! 😆
Well, when my husband was here for a brief 5 week visit, I never noticed that. So it’s kinda opposite.
Because it’s always my husband who gives the card or the cash, the cashiers give the change to him …never to mine. I let him interact with the cashier, and watched them to see if the transaction is right–like I’m a lookout or guard.
But what we always encounter and I still do, is that most stores here do not have the amount of the exact change to give to the customers and they will always ask you if you have 5 cents or 25 cents so they can give you the exact change.
Hi bingkee – I suppose that all of us experience different things. I do know that my experience was as described, and a number of other expats have told me the same. Whatever your husband’s experience, I hope he has enjoyed it here! 😀
Quite strange. Never had this happen. The cashier usually flirts with me. In front of my family. Which is rude. The manager usually seems to fix the issue for us if we complain, luckily. In fact, I think the local supermarket has received an official “this maputi is off limits” order. Which I really respect, and need to make a special thanks for.
Usually in public, people ignore my wife, and ONLY address me. She is treated like a total ghost. Except when some lola or ate wants to tell me how handsome I am, and doesn’t realise I know what guwapo means.
What bothers me is when they don’t give me my barya. “Sorri surrr, there is no cents.” Um, pumunta mahanap ito? Maybe they are used to Westerners saying ‘keep the change’. I’m often left standing and waiting at places. Until they are like “Oh, he wants change?” That’s why I do business with BDO over other banks. They made a huge deal over not having 3 centamos. In the end, while they were apologizing, the 3 cents were walang problema. If it were 50? That be another story 😉
Kumusta ka, Bill? Dili ko kasabot ug Tagalog, pero ok lang kon Bisaya o Ingles. Nagbasa ko sa una kasabot ka ug Bisaya, busa ok lang ta! Asa ka nagpuyo? Diri sa Dabaw, ang tanan cashier maghatag and sensilyo sa akong asawa.
Dugay ka ba sa Pilipinas?
BDO is also the only bank that doesn’t stare, point, and smile at the foreigner. Or incessantly comment on how “handsome” or sexy I am. Or ask me if I need a wife, etc….
Must they always ask that everywhere? Even when my wife is WITH me? Anyhow, I respect the professional businesses here.
I bank at several different banks and have had no troubles with any of them, they all treat me in a professional manner.